Quick Roundup 396

Facing Prosecution

Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, noted for distributing the documentary Fitna over the Internet, is facing criminal prosecution for anti-Islamic statements.

In a statement, the appeals court wrote: "The Amsterdam appeals court has ordered the prosecution of member of parliament Geert Wilders for inciting hatred and discrimination, based on comments by him in various media on Muslims and their beliefs.

"Regarding this turn of events, Wilders recently made an appearance (clip embedded below) on the Glenn Beck show, where he rightly likened Europe's Moslem immigrants to colonists.

Somehow, I don't think the savage holding the sign that read, "God bless Hitler," will have to defend himself in court similarly, not that airing an opinion should ever result in prosecution, outside of incitement.

Obama's "One-Letter-Off" Presidency

Ian Hamet titles a post with the exact same sentiment I had regarding other news pertaining to Barack Obama. First, he quotes from an Instapundit post discussing an Obama nominee: "[Tax] rules, it seems, do not apply to the lofty," to which he says, "There seems to be a typo. The last word ought to read 'lefty'."

That's close to how my mind reacted the other day to Obama's calls for a "new maturity", of which one of his aids said, "He will buck up the American people."

"Buck up?" Yeah. That's one letter off, too!

Zimbabwe Hyperinflation Update

Andrew Dalton recently linked to a news report that Zimbabwe has issued a Z$ 100 trillion note.

In the process, he reminded me of a back-of-the envelope calculation I did some time back when I realized that Mardi Gras doubloons were probably worth much more than Zimbawean currency.

Here it is, revised for the new exchange rate, which is already two orders of magnitude lower than when I did the original calculation a month or so ago.

(3.40 USD /100 gold plastic doubloons)*(26,255,633 ZWD/1 USD) = Z$ 892,691.53 per cheap plastic doubloon

Myrhaf on the Era of Clarity

Myrhaf notes that Obama has started his Presidency off on the left foot: "Obama signed three executive orders appeasing an enemy that wants to destroy America." The three orders pertain to closing Guantanamo Bay, reviewing the use of military tribunals against terrorists, and banning certain forms of torture. And, oh yeah. He snubbed the Salute to Heroes Ball and made his first presidential phone call to Mahmoud Abbas.

Objectivist Roundup

Travelling, I forgot to contribute, but it's hosted by Rule of Reason this week.

Watkins on Big Government vs. Freedom of Speech

Read it and be prepared for the next time some hippie complains about Clear Channel.

How He Does It

Recently, I said, "Paul Hsieh has been such an effective advocate of individual rights in medicine that it seems almost superfluous to mention his appearance in a major news media outlet."

Today, Diana posts on how he does it! Worth the read.

-- CAV